Awareness of your body is vital, as it empowers you to notice any changes or abnormalities early on. We spoke with Joanna Dong, singer and actress, about her breast cancer journey. Her vigilance in observing changes and taking quick action to address her concerns led to a less invasive treatment path.
1. What kind of breast health issue did you face?
I was diagnosed with stage 1 hormone sensitive breast cancer.
2. How did you discover it?
I went to see my breast specialist because I noticed some discharge from my right breast. MRI revealed blood pooling in breast ducts on both breasts, and my surgeon suspected DCIS (stage 0 breast cancer) at first, but the biopsy revealed that whilst I did not have cancer in my ducts, there was an incidental finding of a 7mm cancer tumour in the excised tissue adjacent to my right breast ducts.
3. What was your biggest revelation after you were diagnosed?
I realised that medical science has come a long way in breast cancer surgery, reconstruction, and treatments in the last two decades. I have a few friends who’ve lost their mothers to breast cancer when they were little, but today the survival rate is so much higher, especially when you discover it early like I did.
4. What is one thing you wish you knew before you started treatment?
The internet is a double-edged sword. It helped me learn more about my condition, but sometimes too much information without proper context and expertise can also be overwhelming. There were definitely moments when I had read something online and went on an unnecessary anxiety spiral, before meeting with my doctors who calmly and patiently addressed my concerns.
5. What has the journey of dealing with or managing this issue been like for you?
I was very fortunate that my surgery was minimally invasive, and that I did not have to undergo chemotherapy (only 8 sessions of radiation therapy). It was very manageable, and I honestly experienced relatively little physical discomfort throughout the whole process. Most of the challenge was in dealing with the psychological and emotional stress, and that’s where I am proud of the efforts I had made over the years in strengthening my mental health, and building strong relationships with my husband, family, and friends who have been amazing in supporting me.
6. Before this happened, what was your attitude toward breast health?
I do believe the public health campaigns have paid off, and I was already pretty well-informed about the importance of mammograms and self-checks. I am really grateful, because thanks to this awareness, I was observant of changes to my breasts, and caught the cancer early.
7. Did this journey change that attitude?
If anything, I think my personal experience with breast cancer has prompted me to be more vocal about breast health issues, in the hopes that more women will benefit from early detection like I did.
8. What do you think women in general feel about breast health?
It really depends on which generation of women you are speaking with. I think younger generations are much more comfortable discussing breast health, but for older generations, breasts are still somewhat taboo to talk about, and that’s totally understandable because the cultural norms were different for them. As an entertainer, I have a lot of older fans, so I felt compelled to speak more openly, in the hopes of de-stigmatising the topic for them.
9. What are your thoughts when it comes to general awareness/education in this area?
I think in general we understand much more about breast health now than before, but there are still many misconceptions regarding the specific treatments and procedures. For example, I didn’t realise that not every patient with cancer needs to go through chemotherapy, or that breast reconstruction techniques are so varied now. However, I am not sure it is necessary for the general public to know too many details either, because the treatments are constantly evolving and improving as well, and by the time the public learns about it, the information might already be irrelevant. What is essential and urgent for everyone to know, is that early detection saves lives.
10. What advice would you give women about breast health?
It is not our breasts but our resilience that truly define us as strong and beautiful women. Let’s take charge of our own health!
Staying breast aware and keeping up with regular screenings can provide peace of mind.
Remember, not all abnormalities indicate cancer. Let Solis & Luma provide the reassurance you need. Schedule your mammogram today.
